Bird species abundance and diversity has certainly changed between now and the 1880’s when the Champlain Society was running field courses on Mount Desert Island (MDI). We compared the Champlain Society’s species list that they kept over the 4 year duration they were active on MDI, to the past 4 years of eBird and iNaturalist data from 2018-2021. Today, there are 95 common species on MDI, whereas in the early 1880’s there were only 60 common species. So, the diveristy of regularly occuring species has increased. Table 1 lists all species that were not recorded historically or were rare, but are now common or have increased greatly since the 1880s. When looking at the changes of the species recorded historically we do see a 26.14% decrease in these species (Fiugre 1, Table 3). Table 1 and Table 2 highlight the species with noteable changes over the last 150 years. For a full list of changes to species see Table 4.
Figure 1. The bar graph shows changes in the species recorded by the Champlain Society in the 1880s.
Table 1. This table shows the species that have increased drastically in abundance since the 1880s. From this, we can infer that these species have expanded their range likely as a result of cliamte change and landscape change. There are 33 species that are now common on MDI that were not present historically, and 19 species that are uncommon but regular and were not present historically.
| common.name | scientific.name | frequency.1880 | frequency.current | freq.changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | very rare | common | increased |
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | rare | common | increased |
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | rare | common | increased |
| Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | very rare | uncommon | increased |
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | rare | common | increased |
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | rare | common | increased |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | very rare | uncommon | increased |
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | rare | common | increased |
| Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Blackpoll Warbler | Setophaga striata | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | not detected | common | increased |
| Cape May Warbler | Setophaga tigrina | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Common Eider | Somateria mollissima | not detected | common | increased |
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | not detected | common | increased |
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | not detected | common | increased |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | not detected | common | increased |
| Cooper’s Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | not detected | common | increased |
| Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | not detected | common | increased |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | Contopus virens | not detected | common | increased |
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | not detected | common | increased |
| Great Black-backed Gull | Larus marinus | not detected | common | increased |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | not detected | common | increased |
| House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | not detected | common | increased |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | not detected | common | increased |
| Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | not detected | common | increased |
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | not detected | common | increased |
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | not detected | common | increased |
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | not detected | common | increased |
| Nelson’s Sparrow | Ammospiza nelsoni | not detected | common | increased |
| Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | not detected | common | increased |
| Northern Gannet | Morus bassanus | not detected | common | increased |
| Palm Warbler | Setophaga palmarum | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | not detected | common | increased |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | not detected | common | increased |
| Pine Warbler | Setophaga pinus | not detected | common | increased |
| Red-necked Grebe | Podiceps grisegena | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | not detected | common | increased |
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | not detected | common | increased |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Corthylio calendula | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | not detected | common | increased |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Swamp Sparrow | Melospiza georgiana | not detected | common | increased |
| Tennessee Warbler | Leiothlypis peregrina | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | not detected | common | increased |
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | not detected | common | increased |
| White-winged Scoter | Melanitta deglandi | not detected | common | increased |
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | not detected | common | increased |
| Wilson’s Storm-Petrel | Oceanites oceanicus | not detected | uncommon | increased |
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | not detected | common | increased |
| Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | not detected | common | increased |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | not detected | uncommon | increased |
Figure 5. Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) distribution across MDI.
Figure 6. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) distribution across MDI.
Figure 7. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) distribution across MDI.
Table 2. This table shows the species that have decreased drastically in abundance since the 1880s.
| common.name | scientific.name | frequency.1880 | frequency.current | freq.changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | common | rare | decreased |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | common | rare | decreased |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | common | rare | decreased |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | common | very rare | decreased |
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | uncommon | very rare | decreased |
| Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis | common | rare | decreased |
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | common | rare | decreased |
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | common | very rare | decreased |
| Passenger Pigeon | Ectopistes migratorius | rare | extinct | decreased |
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | common | rare | decreased |
| Ruffed Grouse | Bonasa umbellus | common | rare | decreased |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | common | rare | decreased |
Figure 2. American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) distribution across MDI.
Figure 3. Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) distribution across MDI.
Figure 4. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) distribution across MDI.
Table 3. This table shows the species we know to have descreased in abundance since the 1880s.
| common.name | scientific.name | frequency.1880 | frequency.current | frequency.changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | common | rare | decreased |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | common | rare | decreased |
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Setophaga castanea | common | uncommon | decreased |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | common | rare | decreased |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | common | very rare | decreased |
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | uncommon | very rare | decreased |
| Boreal Chickadee | Poecile hudsonicus | rare | very rare | decreased |
| Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis | common | rare | decreased |
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | common | rare | decreased |
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | uncommon | rare | decreased |
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | rare | very rare | decreased |
| Nashville Warbler | Leiothlypis ruficapilla | common | uncommon | decreased |
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | rare | very rare | decreased |
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | common | rare | decreased |
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | rare | very rare | decreased |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | uncommon | rare | decreased |
| Ruffed Grouse | Bonasa umbellus | common | rare | decreased |
| Short-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | uncommon | rare | decreased |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | common | rare | decreased |
| Eastern Whip-poor-will | Antrostomus vociferus | rare | very rare | decreased |
| Passenger Pigeon | Ectopistes migratorius | rare | extinct | decreased |
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | common | very rare | decreased |
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | rare | very rare | decreased |
Table 5. This table breaks down of all species recorded by the Champlain Society with their frquency status from the 1880s and today. If you look at the ‘Changes in Frequency’ column you can see how these species have changed from historic times.
| common.name | scientific.name | frequency.1880 | frequency.current | frequency.changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alder Flycatcher | Empidonax alnorum | common | common | no change |
| American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | rare | uncommon | increased |
| American Black Duck | Anas rubripes | common | common | no change |
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | common | common | no change |
| American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | common | common | no change |
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | common | common | no change |
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | common | common | no change |
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | common | rare | decreased |
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | common | common | no change |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | common | rare | decreased |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | common | common | no change |
| Barred Owl | Strix varia | uncommon | common | increased |
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Setophaga castanea | common | uncommon | decreased |
| Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | common | common | no change |
| Black Guillemot | Cepphus grylle | common | common | no change |
| Black Scoter | Melanitta americana | rare | uncommon | increased |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | common | common | no change |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | common | rare | decreased |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | common | common | no change |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | common | very rare | decreased |
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | uncommon | very rare | decreased |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Setophaga virens | common | common | no change |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Setophaga fusca | common | common | no change |
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | rare | common | increased |
| Blue-headed Vireo | Vireo solitarius | common | common | no change |
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | uncommon | uncommon | no change |
| Bonaparte’s Gull | Chroicocephalus philadelphia | uncommon | common | increased |
| Boreal Chickadee | Poecile hudsonicus | rare | very rare | decreased |
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | common | common | no change |
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | rare | common | increased |
| Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis | common | rare | decreased |
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | common | common | no change |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Setophaga pensylvanica | common | common | no change |
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | common | rare | decreased |
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | common | common | no change |
| Common Loon | Gavia immer | uncommon | common | increased |
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | common | common | no change |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | common | common | no change |
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | common | common | no change |
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | common | common | no change |
| Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | common | common | no change |
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | uncommon | rare | decreased |
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | rare | common | increased |
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | common | common | no change |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | common | common | no change |
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | uncommon | common | increased |
| Hairy Woodpecker | Dryobates villosus | common | common | no change |
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | common | common | no change |
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | common | common | no change |
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | rare | very rare | decreased |
| Leach’s Storm-Petrel | Hydrobates leucorhous | rare | rare | no change |
| Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | common | common | no change |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | uncommon | common | increased |
| Magnolia Warbler | Setophaga magnolia | common | common | no change |
| Nashville Warbler | Leiothlypis ruficapilla | common | uncommon | decreased |
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | common | common | no change |
| Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | rare | uncommon | increased |
| Northern Parula | Setophaga americana | common | common | no change |
| Northern Waterthrush | Parkesia noveboracensis | rare | rare | no change |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | common | common | no change |
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | common | common | no change |
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | rare | very rare | decreased |
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | common | rare | decreased |
| Purple Finch | Haemorhous purpureus | common | common | no change |
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | rare | common | increased |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | common | common | no change |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | common | common | no change |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | uncommon | common | increased |
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | rare | very rare | decreased |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | common | common | no change |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | uncommon | rare | decreased |
| Ruffed Grouse | Bonasa umbellus | common | rare | decreased |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | common | common | no change |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | common | common | no change |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | uncommon | common | increased |
| Short-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | uncommon | rare | decreased |
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | rare | common | increased |
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | common | common | no change |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | common | common | no change |
| Swainson’s Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | common | common | no change |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | common | common | no change |
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | rare | rare | no change |
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | common | common | no change |
| White-winged Crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | rare | uncommon | increased |
| Wilson’s Warbler | Cardellina pusilla | rare | rare | no change |
| Winter Wren | Troglodytes hiemalis | common | common | no change |
| Yellow Warbler | Setophaga petechia | common | common | no change |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | common | rare | decreased |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | common | common | no change |
| Eastern Whip-poor-will | Antrostomus vociferus | rare | very rare | decreased |
| Passenger Pigeon | Ectopistes migratorius | rare | extinct | decreased |
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | common | very rare | decreased |
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | rare | very rare | decreased |